CAST

AUSTIN CAFFIN AS ETHAN HOLT

Austin Caffin is a well-respected Australian actor with extensive experience in film, commercials, theatre, and music theatre.

His training includes a Bachelor of Musical Theatre from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, as well as comprehensive courses specializing in Shakespeare, stage combat, acrobatics, and dance.

As a member of the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, he has performed the roles of Demetrius in Titus, Romeo in Romeo & Juliet, and Nick Bottom in Midsummer Mechanicals. He also appeared in Voices Inside Out, and as Sir Andrew Aguecheek in the Shakespeare Prison Project.

Music theater roles include Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, The Narrator in Into The Woods , Margaret Mead in Hair, Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest, and various roles in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. He’s also appeared in Rent (IMS), Les Misérables (IMS), Footloose (GCAC), Rob Guest’s Jekyll & Hyde, Grease (IMS), and The Sound of Music (IMS).

LEISA RAYVEN AS ERIKA EDEN

Leisa is one of Queensland’s best-loved cabaret and music theatre artists, and has been performing professionally since the age of fifteen.

In theatre, her repertoire includes such iconic roles as Eponine in Les Miserables, Mary Magdelene in Jesus Christ Superstar, The Baker’s Wife in Into the Wood’s, Anita in West Side Story, and Lilas Pastia in Opera Queensland’s critically acclaimed production of Carmen. She has toured Australia and New Zealand in HMS Pinafore, and in Stephen Sondheim’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to The Forum, and was nominated for a Perform Award for her role as Judy Denmark in the award-winning musical, Ruthless. Screen credits include Mrs. Featherbed in The Babysitter’s Club, and the lead role in the movie-musical, Blueberry Lane.

Leisa is also in demand as a scriptwriter and director, and has written and directed shows for Dreamworld, the RNA, The Queensland Symphony Orchestra, as well as two successful touring shows for Opera Queensland: The Food of Love, and Waltzing Our Matilda.

In the past few years, Leisa has become an internationally best-selling author. Her first two novels, Bad Romeo and Broken Juliet are published worldwide through Macmillan, and have now been translated into eight foreign languages. Her third novel, Wicked Heart will be released in May 2016.

LAURA FRASER AS ZOE STEVENS

Laura is a 21 year-old Newcastle native, and is a self-taught make up artist, and model.

Her favorite food is Asian, and her one true love is travel.

Playing Zoe Stevens in the Bad Romeo film is Laura’s debut film role.

HAYDEN GEENS AS LUCAS VERDE

Hayden Geens is a talented twenty-three year old Australian actor known for his roles in Betrayals and Bullets as Barton the villain, Featured Extra in Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge, and as lovable stoner Lucas Verde in Bad Romeo.

CASSIE’S BED AS HOLT’S PLAYGROUND

Originally cast in a minor role, Cassie’s Bed proved to be popular with both the film’s actors and director, and so even when the camera wasn’t rolling, the bed was used for sitting, napping, reading, and even snuggling.

When asked about the fact some of its best work won’t be portrayed in the film, the bed said, “Eh. That’s showbiz, right? I wanted to be cast as Zoe but instead I’m the bed? Whatever. Those people wouldn’t know talent if they slept on it. Which they did.”

The rumor around the set is that Austin Caffin, the actor who played Ethan Holt, slept in the bed for days, and yet never made it breakfast in the morning. At the time of publication, Austin couldn’t be reached for comment.

DICK-A-CINO AS HIMSELF

Dick started life as an ordinary cappuccino, but unfortunately outrageous demands, temper tantrums, and erratic behavior quickly earned this up-and-coming caffeinated beverage the moniker of Dick-a-cino from the film’s cast and crew.

Although Dick was only required for one scene, he’d regularly show up on set, hungover or high, and completely disrupt the production schedule by demanding countless re-shoots. (Of everyone else’s scenes. Not his.)

Reports of a feud between Dick and the stars of the film are well-founded, and the trio could often be seen engaging in heated arguments, mainly over Dick’s refusal to be made with soy milk, as well as his constant demands for his part be made larger.

“You think you two bitches are the only ones who can recite Shakespeare?” he was overheard yelling at Austin and Annie in the make-up room. “I’ve been with Bell Shakespeare for three years. THREE FUCKING YEARS! And yet you expect me to sit there in a goddamn PAPER CUP and say NOTHING?! Screw you guys. I’ll be in my trailer!”

Since production wrapped, no one has heard from Dick, but it’s rumored he’s in the states playing Willy Loman’s flat white in a touring production of the Arthur Miller classic, Death of a Salesman. Sadly, he still hasn’t managed to secure any lines.

ANNIE WILSON AS CASSIE TAYLOR

Annie Wilson is an up-and-coming Australian theatre and film actress, currently studying at Screenwise acting school in Sydney.

Annie has been interested in the performing arts from a young age and started to pursue it as a career in 2013.

Annie’s most notable theatre role is as Claire Standish in the stage adaption ofJohn Hughes’ hit 80’s movie, The Breakfast club.

Annie’s film roles include Alaska Young in the Looking for Alaska book trailer, Blaire Carroway in Safe and Sound, and of course, Cassandra Taylor in Bad Romeo.

Annie is co-owner of the production company ‘One Serve Productions’ which focuses on creating quality short films and theatre projects.

NICHOLAS SMITH AS CONNOR BAINE

Nicholas Smith is an Australian actor whose most recent role was as Connor Baine in the “Bad Romeo” film, 2016.

Nicholas’ first interest in the performing arts was during his time as an ensemble member of Newcastle’s Metropolitan Theatre’s acclaimed production of Hairspray in 2014, which won multiple awards including Best Ensemble Acting, Best Musical Production, and Excellence by a Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, to name a few.

Since then Nicholas has completed multiple short term acting courses at Australia’s prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art.

Now focusing his attention towards London’s West End, he aims to be both writing and performing in both film and theatre throughout the UK for the foreseeable future.

JAMES COATES AS JACK AVERY (FILM DIRECTOR + DOP)

James has been interested in film and photography from a young age. His photography business ‘Life is Good’ captures a wide genre of events, from weddings, to high-fashion photoshoots.

Along with photography, James is an active member of the performing arts community. Having attending a performing arts school for the duration of his school years, James is a talented and experienced actor. His most recent theatre roles are Brian Johnson in the stage adaption of John Hughes hit 80’s movie The Breakfast Club, and Charley in Charley’s aunt.

James’ most notable film roles are The Colonel in the Looking for Alaska book trailer, and Jack Avery in the Bad Romeo short film.

In the future James aims to become a director of photography and work on more feature and short films, as well as keeping up his photography business.

CRAIG ALLISTER YOUNG AS MARCO FIORI

Craig Allister Young is a cellist, orchestrator, arranger, singer, and song-writer who works with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in Brisbane. Over the past 20 years he has orchestrated music for most of the major orchestras in Australia, composed music for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, toured a cabaret ensemble around QLD and for the past three years has been a musical director and cellist for the QLD ballet.

His passion for cooking saw him become a popular contestant in the TV sensation, Australian Masterchef 2011. After his elimination, Craig began his own catering company – Musical Menus.

Craig’s role as Marco Fiori in Bad Romeo is his debut film role.

BRENT COWLEY AS HOT EXTRA

Brent is, in fact, a talented film-maker and actor in his own right, but was humble enough to be an extra on the film due to his friendship with the project’s 1st assistant director.

At the age of 16, Brent wrote his first novel, and excelled in acting and writing in high school. He went on to gain his Bachelor of Communication from the University of Newcastle, majoring in Media Production. He now runs two very successful YouTube channels (JarraxQ and skuldJQ), and is always on the lookout for new and interesting projects.

During his time working on the Bad Romeo Film, Brent impressed producers so much with his smoldering performance, he’s now appeared in the background of several major motion pictures. He has singlehandedly turned being a Hot Extra into an entirely new category of film casting.

DRESSING ROOM AS #1 HOT MAKE-OUT SPOT

Originally an overcrowded storeroom, The Dressing Room received a major make-over prior to filming, and is now a star in its own right. When asked if it felt self-conscious about having Cassie and Ethan making out like maniacs up against its walls and benches, The Dressing Room said, “Well, yeah. At first it was strange because their hands were everywhere and I didn’t know where to look. But after a few takes, I was comfortable with the whole thing. Even though Annie and Austin were doing filthy things to each other, they were total professionals, and I hope to work with them again someday.”

Playing ‘#1 Hot Make-Out Spot’ was Dressing Room’s debut film role, but it hopes to go on to bigger and better things. It’s greatest wish would be to one day work with its hero, Martin Scorsese. “Maybe he could film an orgy or massacre set in a dressing room. It’s never really been done before, and I think I have what it takes to pull it off.”